Hasek Yanked in First Buffalo Trip

Published 8:00 pm, Sunday, March 10, 2002

In his first visit back to Buffalo since the July trade that sent him to Detroit, Hasek gave up four goals on 12 shots and was yanked after two periods as the Sabres beat the Red Wings 5-1 Sunday.

"What can I say? I was excited to be back, but disappointed after the game," said Hasek, who was Buffalo's goalie for nine seasons. "We were a little sluggish, and I didn't have my best game either."

The Wings may have been out of sorts because high winds prevented the team's plane from arriving until about three hours before game time.

But Hasek took full blame for Chris Gratton's early second-period goal which gave the Sabres a 4-0 lead. With Gratton racing up the left side, Hasek inexplicably dove wildly to his left, leaving an open net.

"I just guessed, and I made a funny move. I don't know why," Hasek said. "It was the worst goal I've ever given up."

Hasek, who received a mixed response from the crowd when he was introduced, spent the third period riding the exercise bike in the locker room.

In Vancouver, Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov capped San Jose's scoring with an empty-net goal with 47.2 seconds left as the Sharks beat the Canucks.

The last goaltender to score was Montreal's Jose Theodore, who scored against the New York Islanders on Jan. 2, 2001.

Nabokov, who finished with 26 saves, scored from the top of his own crease while Canucks goaltender Peter Skudra was off for the extra skater.

Owen Nolan had a goal and four assists for San Jose.

Islanders 6, Thrashers 1

In Uniondale, N.Y., Roman Hamrlik and Michael Peca each scored two goals as New York snapped a three-game losing streak.

Alexei Yashin and Mariusz Czerkawski also scored for New York, which got 18 saves from Chris Osgood.

Dany Heatley broke Osgood's shutout bid with 5:32 left, but the Thrashers lost their fifth straight.

Capitals 4, Oilers 2

In Washington, Peter Bondra had his first three-goal game of the season, and Dmitri Khristich broke a 2-2 tie 4:16 into the third period.

Todd Marchant and Mike Comrie scored for Edmonton.

Lightning 5, Predators 1

In Tampa, Brad Richards, Sheldon Keefe and Dan Boyle had a goal and two assists each as Tampa Bay beat Nashville. Nikita Alexeev and Ben Clymer also scored for the Lightning.

Andy Delmore had Nashville's goal.

Wild 5, Blue Jackets 0

In St. Paul, Marian Gaborik scored three goals to lead Minnesota to its third straight victory.

Gaborik has scored seven goals in four games for the Wild, who are on their first winning streak since October, when they also won three in a row.

Dwayne Roloson 14 shots for his second straight shutout.

Devils 3, Stars 0

In Dallas, Martin Brodeur stopped 22 shots for his 54th career shutout as New Jersey ended a three-game losing streak.

Sergei Brylin, Tommy Albelin and Brian Gionta scored.

Ed Belfour, 3-9-0 in his last 12 starts, returned to net for the Stars after watching backup Marty Turco start the four previous games. He made 17 saves.

Maple Leafs 3, Flyers 1

In Philadelphia, Darcy Tucker scored two goals and Corey Schwab had to make only 16 saves. Gary Roberts added an empty-net goal for the Maple Leafs.

Eric Desjardins scored for the Flyers.

Senators 4, Mighty Ducks 2

In Anaheim, Daniel Alfredsson snapped a tie 47 seconds into the third period with his second power-play goal. Shawn McEachern and Marian Hossa also scored and Patrick Lalime made 16 saves, facing only one shot in the third period.